Condenser-type heater



April 19, 1927.

Filed March 13, 1925 J. PRICE CONDENSER TYPE HEATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [Nw/,(35 ff@ ,all wwwa ATTORNEY April 19, 1927. 1,624,973

J. PRICE vcoNDENsER 'TYPE HEATER Filed March 13. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 o o 0- -0 0 o o o o 0 0. ,o 000 0 0` 00 0000 O 0000 oooooooooooo 0000 00000000 00 oooooooo 0900000 o06090o 0000- ooooooooooo 0000 ,ooo 00000000 0oo0o0ooo ooooooaooooqo ooooocoooo a oso ogogogogogoswososososo 00800000 ooo o0 0 ooo o 0 OOiOOOOOOOO 0 INVENTOR M022 MLM ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFHCEE.

JOSEPH PRICE, OF STAPLETON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRISCOM-RUSSELL COM- PANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CONDENSER-TYPE HEATER.

Application led March 13, 1925.

The present invention relates to a fluid to fluid heat exchanger and has to do particularly with large capacity units wherein the heating medium is steam at relatively low pressure.

ln steam utilizing plants it is common to employ the various heat returns from the system, such as exhaust steam from the auxiliary apparatus of the plant, bleeder steam from one or more stages of the main turbines, or the like, to preheat the boiler feed water before it is passed into the boiler. In order that a satisfactory overall eiiiciency may be obtained, it is advisable to heat the feed water as much as practicable by means of used steam. The modern tendency in central station practice is to eifect the transfer of the heat 'from the used steam to the boiler feed water in heat exchangers Wherein the water pass-ed through the heat transferring tubes and the steam circulated about in the space surrounding the tubes. Condenser type heaters of this character as used in modern power plants are commonly large units. Furthermore, it is desirable that the heating elements of these units be bodily removable `trom the shell. for purposes of inspection, cleaning and repair, and it is this feature which gives rise to consideraliile practical ditliculty in providing an apparatus wherein the heating element may be readily removed and reassembled after the device is once installed. rl`he necessity of air battles in the lower part of the shell is chiefly responsible for such difliculties of manipulation.

it is a principal object of this invention to provide a condenser type heater of this class intended to effect a heat transfer between water and steam. The invention contempla-tes an effective heat interchange be tween the two mediums, a complete condensation of the heating steam and provision for the separation of entrained air from the heating medium and its discharge from the apparatus. he tube bundle which constitutes the heating element of the apparatus is a large unit consisting of a suiiicient nu1nber of tubes to present an, ample heat transferring surface to the action of the heating steam. lhe tribes are supported at their respective ends and are provided intermediate their ends with an additional support. An air ba e provided for etl'ecting subcooling and discharge of the air and insur- `Serial No. 15,185.

ing colnplete condensation of the vapors so that no condensable vapors will escape through the air vent. y with the end supports for the tubes, the intermediate tube support, the air battle and the other elements necessary to the rigidity and strength of the structure are built as a separate unit which is bodily removable from the apparatus shell.

It is an important feature of this invention that the tube bundle and its associated elements are assembled and secured in place Within the apparatus shell as a single unit, and in such fashion as to render removal and reassembly of the unit easy. In the large capacity heat exchangers of the general type referred to herein, I have found that in order to manufacture the apparatus according to commercially practicable methods, provision must be made for variations in the position of the respective elements when assembled in the shell, sagging of the tube bundle, differences arising out of expansion and contraction under influences of temperature change and the like. rthe invention contemplates connections for assembling and securing in place the heating element of the apparatus which connections are flexible in the sense that they permit a limited amount of variation in the position of the parts and the like and in this way facilitate assembly of the apparatus and ford an apparatus wherein the tube bundle is capable of being removed and replaced with a minimum amount of time and effort.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an air battle for permitting discharge of uncondensable vapors and at the same time preventing discharge of condensable vapors, which baffle is incorporated as a part of the heating element so that it is removed from the apparatus upon removal of the heating element. The air baiiie is built into the heating element in such fashion that it may be Withdrawn from the tube bundle after the bundle has been removed from the apparatus without necessity oit' disassembling any of the tubes or other parts of the heating element.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings` wherein Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section taken through an apparatus embodying the invention, Figure 2 is a view illustrating the supporting structure for the The tubes together removable element, Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the apparatus of Figure 1, an@L Figure fl is a view illustratino' a detail.

teferring to the drawings, 1 indicates the shell or housing of the heater and 2 indicates the tubes which constitute the heat transferring element of the apparatus. The tubes are supported at one end in a sta* tionary tube sheet 3 and are supported at the other end in a tube sheet 4 which, together with the head or chamber 5, constitutes a longitudinally movable support for the tube ends by reason of which the tubes may expand and contract under the influence of tempera-ture change without injury to the parts of the apparatus. later is admitted to the apparatus through the inlet opening 6 from whence it enters certain of the tubes 2. In the apparatus here shown, provision is made for passing the incoming water along the length of the heat transferring element four times before it is finally discharged through the outlet 7. This multipass arrangement is effected by means of the partitions 8 within the head 9 at the initial end` of the apparatus and by means of the partition 10 within the head 5 at the other end of the apparatus. The water being heated is thus subjected to the action of the heating steam throughout an extended period of time so that an effective heat transfer is secured. Heating steam is admitted through the v inlet 1*-1 into the space surrounding the heat transferring tubes 2 and the condensate is ultimately discharged through the opening 12 provided for this purpose at the bottom of the shell 1.

The invention particularly contemplates the provision of a heating element which may readily be removed and restored again to operativeposition. A supporting member or pla-te 13 is provided intermediate the ends ofr the tubes 2. The support 13 is here shown positioned about midway between the ends of the tubes and is attached by suitable connections to the shell 1 of the apparatus. As shown in Figure 3, a plurality of bolts 1li are employed to secure the plate 13 to the shell 1. These bolts engage with lugs 15 welded or otherwise secured to the plate 13. lach of the bolts extends to the exterior of the shell throughk a hole 16 in the shell which is of a diameter materially larger than the diameter of the bolt. Leakage is prevented by introducing a threaded member or plug 17 into the Yopening 1G, which plug is in turn sealed at its end by means of a threaded cap 18. The head 19 of the bolt 14 works against a washer 2O at the outer end of the plug 17 to thereby tablish the connection between the supporting plate Vand the shell 1, and can be turned to space the plate 13 farther away from or closer to the shell at the point of connection. ne inside diameter of the threaded plug 17 is considerably greater than the diameter of the bolt M so that the bolt may be introduced into connection with the supporting plate 13 throughout a considerable variation in position of the plate, circuin't'erentially of the shell. The washer 2U is slotted longitudinally as indicated at 21 in Figure s to thereby accommodate a limited range of positions of the bolt 14, `longitudinally of the shell. Thus the connections between the intermediate support and the shell can be adjusted in all three of the possible planes of motion; that is, radially outwardly or inwardly, closer to, or farther away from, the shell; longitudinally of the shell; and circumferentially of the shell, and thereby permit of limited variations in the final and operating position of the support within the shell. This structure provides' a rigid connection between the apparatus shell and the tube support ing plate and at the same time permits the limited variation in position of the supporting plate which has been found necessary in order that hurried and easy but etlicient and proper securing in position of the removable unit may be accomplish-ed.

rThe apparat-us is provided with air outlets 22. Cooperating with these outlet members are air baffles 23 constituted preferably of flexible sheet metal and secured in place by suitable brackets or plates 24; which serve to attach the baiie to the respective tube supporting sheets or plates. The air outlet members 22 have a threaded connection 25 with the battle members 23 so that they may be removed by unscrewing them from their connection with the battles and withdrawing them to the exterior of the shell. Upon removal of the air outlets 22 and the bolts 14e the air baiiles 23 are freed from their connection with the shel 1 and may be removed with the heating element.

The frame or skeleton of the removable element is shown in Figure 2. lt comprises the tube sheets 3 and 4t together with the middle tube support 13. Tube supporting members or distance pieces 27 are placed at appropriate intervals around the periphery of the unit and extend between the tube sheet 3 and the intermediate tube support 13. For the purpose of providing free expansion and contraction of the tubes under the iniiuence of ten'iperature change, no such distance pieces are provided between the intermediate tube support 13' and the. tube sheet at the other end of the unit. If the heater employs tubes of .such length that more than one intermediate support 13 is required, distance pieces 27 will be provided between all of the intermediate tube support plates and between the tube sheet 3 and the intermediate plate 13. No distance piecesV would be' attached to the tube sheet ft, namely that tube sheet which constitutes a partl of the floating head of the appara-tus. The air baffles 23 constitute a part of the removable unit as shown. This frame structure shown in Figure 2 together with the heat transferring tribes 2, which for the salie of clearness have been omitted in the illustration of the ligure, constitute the remorable element of the apparatus.

The air baille 23 surrounds in large part certain ofthe tubes ofthe heating element indicated generally at 2G. The purpose of this arrangement is to insure complete condensation of the vapors in the shell andto thus prevent the escape of the condensable vapors through the air discharge outlets. The heating steam admitted to the apparatus through the inlet opening ll circulates about within the 'hell l and is thus brought into heat transferring relation with the outer surfaces of the tubes The condensate and the uncondensed portion of the heating fluid pass down toward the bottom of the apparatus whererujion the condensate is discharged through the outlet opening 12 and the and remaining uncondensed vapors are drawn up within the air baille into heat transferring relation with the group of tubes 26. By the time that the heating Huid has reached the lower portion of the shell, the Yapors are substantially completely condensed, but the group4 of tubes 26 is so arranged as to insure complete condensation of any part of the vapors which may not have been condensed during the normal passage of the heating medium through the apparatus and to subcool the non-condensable gases so as to reduce the volume of said gases. The uncondensable gases such as air and the like pass out through the discharge opening 22` the outward flow of gases being preferably maintained by means of a suitable air pump or the like.

lhen the removable unit is withdrawn from the shell the air baille 23 is readily removable from the tube bundle without nccessity of taking out any of the tubes or otherwise disassembling the unit. The baffle is made of flexible sheet metal .so that by merely loosening its retaining clamps 24 it may be directly withdrawn from its position in the tube bundle. lt will be noted that the various clamps in the present strncture for the most part occupy otherwise unused space and do not appreciably restrict the amount of heat transferring' surface which may be incorporated into the apparatus.

The present invention provides a condenser type heater in which the entire tube bundle is readily removable from the shell and readily replaceable in the shell, in spite of the fact that this type of heater includes an air baille near the bottom of the shell extending throughout l.the length of the tubes and in addition includes one or more supports for the tubes intermediate their ends. The present structure permits easy and prompt withdrawal of the large tube bundles employed in this type of heater and insures that they may be removed from and replaced in the apparatus easily and accurately in the shortest possible time. The invention resides largely in the particular structure and arrangement employed in incorpoiating the air baille and the intermediate tube support into the apparatus not only without interfering with removal of the tube bundle but positively facilitating the assembling of the tube bundle into position in the shell.

l claim:

l. In a heat exchanger of the class delribed, a shell, heat transferring tubes with- .faid shell, end supports for said tubes, an additional support for said tubes positioned intermediate said end supports, and detachable connections between two of said respective supports and said shell, the detachable connections of said additional support having freedom of motion in three directions, whereby the heating element may be removed as a unit from the shell.

2. ln a heat exchanger of the class described, a shell, heat transferring tubes .supported at their respective ends, a support for said tubes intermediate the ends thereof, and connections between said intermediate support and said shell, said connections being capable of being established throughout three planes of adjustment at right angles to each other, thereby permitting limited variation in the positioning of said support within the shell.

3. In a heat exchanger of the class described, a shell, heat transferring tubes within said shall, means for introducing heat-- ing fluid to the space within the shell surrounding said tubes, means for discharging from the shell, and a baille cooperating with said .discharge means for insuring complete condensation ofthe condensable vapors and preventing escape thereof, said bat-- fle constituting apart of the tube bundle and .being removable therewith.

4l. In a heat exchanger of the class described, a containing shell, a tube bundle constituting the heating element of the apparatus, means for admitting` heating steam to the space surrounding the tribes of said bundle, discharge means for passing uncondensable gases out of the apparatus, a baffle cooperating with said discharge means for insuring condensation of condensable vapors and preventing escape thereof, and means for securing said baille in integral relation with said tube bundle, said baffle being bodily removable from the apparatus with said tube bundle and being independently removable from said tube bundle.

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5. In a heat exchanger of the class described, a shell, heat transferring tubes positioned within said shell and supported at their respective ends, a support for engaging Said tubes intermediate their ends, and means of attachment between said intermediate support and said shell comprising a loose-fitting connection which permits a limited. variation in the positioning of said support in the shell, whereby said attachment is capable of being established throughout three planes of adjustment.

6. In a heat exchanger of the class described, a shell for containing the heat transferring medium, heat transferring tubes within said shell, end supports for said tubes, an additional support for said tubes intermediate the ends thereof, and connections between said intermediate support and said shell, comprising a bolt engaging one of said parts and having a connection with the other part over a limited range of positions, whereby said connections are capable of being established throughout three planes of motion.

7. In a heat exchanger of the class described, a shell for containing the heating medium, heat transferring tubes within said shell, end supports for said tubes, an additional support for said tubes intermediate the ends thereof and connections between said intermediate support and said shell comprising a bolt engaging said support and having a limited range of adjustment with respect to said shell, whereby said connections may be established throughout three planes of motion at right angles to each other and variations in position of said support may be accommodated.

8. In a heat exchanger of the class described, a shell for containing the heating medium, heat transferring tubes within said shell, end supports for said tubes, an additional support for said tubes intermediate the ends thereof, connections between said intermediate support and said shell comprising a bolt engaging said support and eX- tending through a hole in said shell of diameter substantially greater than that of the bolt, means for preventing leakage at said connec ion and a member for effecting the engagement of said bol-t with the shell for any of its positions within said hole.

9. In` a heat exchanger of the class described, a containing shell, heat transferring tubes within said. shell, a stationary tube sheet supporting said tubes at one end thereof, a longitudinally movable tube sheet supporting said tubes at the other end thereof, whereby expansion and contraction of said tubes under the influence of temperature change is accommodated, anr additional support for said tubes intermediate the end-s thereof, connections between said intermediate support and said shell for rigidly attach-- ing said support to said shell and permitting a limited variation in the position of said support, and spacing members between said respective tubesupports, said tubes and tube supports being removable bodily from said shell.

10. In a heat exchanger of the class described, a containing shell, heat transferring tubes within said shell, a stationary tube sheet supporting said tubes at one end thereof, a longitudinally movable tube sheet supporting said tubes at the other end thereof, whereby expansion and contraction of said tubes under the influence of temperaturc change is accommodafed, an additional support for said tubes intermediate the ends thereof, connections between saidV intermediate support and said shell for rigidly attaching said support to said shell and permitting a limited variation in the positioning of said support, spacing members between said respective tube supports, said tubes and tube supports being removable bodily from said shell, a baille incorporated as a part of said removable unit for facilitating discharge of uncondensable gases, detachable outlet means cooperating with said baflie for expelling uncondensable gases from the apparatus and means whereby said baffle may be removed from the tube bundle without disassembling of said bundle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOSEPH PRICE. 

